Cognitive Ultimate

Analyzing the sport an athlete plays is an essential for those who play at high levels. College and professional athletes study plays, concepts, and tape for hours. They need this mental strength to be able to compete. So many players have the size, speed, and the physical strength, but the mental aspects to an athletes' game is what can separate them. So why should ultimate be any different?

Granted, these guys are either doing this for a living or getting a free college education, so the time they put in is required to be much greater. On a smaller scale though, mastering the nuiances of ultimate can show a wide disparity between players. Many people play ultimate on a very surface level and run around on the field with little thought to what they are doing. However, the complexities of ultimate are significant and an important tool for each player.

I'll post some concepts that develop a players' "ultimate intelligence." The first of which will be the mental processes involved in completing a pass:

Throwing the disc to a teammate is not simply aiming for their chest and releasing. You have to evaluate the type of cut, positioning of defender, speed of the receiver, etc. There are many factors involved in a throw, but no one is going to have time to sit there and evaluate the best course of action. It is helpful to think of these things now, so it becomes a quick, natural response for you on the field.

If someone is making an in cut to the open side throwing the disc right at them is not the right decision. Never look at a cutter and think of him in his present state, think of how the play will develop as a result of your throw. Where will he be? What angle is he cutting at? How fast is he going? You should throw the disc to space, where the receiver will be and can position himself so his defender does not have a play. Noticing if the defender is baiting or has a play on the disc is crucial, because one or two steps can be made up when someone is horizontal getting the D. However, there are many instances when a defender is two steps behind the receiver but you can properly place the disc so the defender does not have a play on the disc. It's all about placement and giving your receiver the advantage. Make it difficult for the defender to get the disc; give your receiver the best body position.

If you see a receiver making an out cut, you should not just launch the disc in his general direction. Recognize where his defender is and what advantage your receiver has. If he has 15 feet on him, put the disc right out in front of him and have him run onto it. If they are closer together but there is a wide open break side, put an IO throw to space on the break side. The defender will be out of position and the disc will curve toward your receiver. If you see a cutter beating his man to the open side, throw a hard OI huck to him so that it doesn't float and the disc curves towards him.

There are no viable options upfield, and now you're making a dump throw. Your dump has made a move and wants a big swing. Release low to the ground and put some float on the disc so that you can lead your receiver and he can run onto it. He now has momentum and steps on his defender that leads to a big breakside look. He makes a move and is coming right up close for a quick dump. Snap your wrist and put lots of spin on the disc. Make sure that it is a real throw that gets to your teammate; the wobbly, floaty dumps in those situations lead to Ds or unforced errors. Now your dump has decided to go strike. Don't laser a disc at him as he's coming across. Put some touch on the disc and lead him. Put him in good position to quickly look upfield and get some good open side flow.

These are a few of the things you should be thinking about when figuring out what the right throw is for different situations. For some select writings on cognitive ultimate skills from guys who know much more than I do, check some of these posts out:

http://parinella.blogspot.com/2007/06/purposeful-walking.html
http://zazman.blogspot.com/2005/08/turnover-compact.html
http://www.shelltown.com/~parinell/disc.htm (click "Marking" on the left hand side)